A new giclée print titled “Natsume’s Book of Friends Ukiyo-e ‘Autumn Wind Umbrella Pattern'” has been released, bringing the world of the anime into traditional Japanese art. The print went on sale July 3, 2026, via the “Bansan Ukiyo-e Workshop” online shop.
Based on the manga by Midorikawa Yuki serialized in “Monthly LaLa,” Natsume’s Book of Friends is a tale of contracts with spirits. The story follows the lonely boy Natsume Takashi, who can see yokai. After inheriting his grandmother Reiko’s “Book of Friends,” which contains the names of spirits she bound, Natsume finds himself pursued by yokai. With the self-proclaimed bodyguard Nyanko-sensei, he navigates a busy life dealing with the contracts his grandmother made.
The TV anime began with its first season in 2008 and has aired six seasons to date. The voice cast features Kamiya Hiroshi as Natsume and Inoue Kazuhiko as Nyanko-sensei. In September 2018, the series’ first feature-length original episode was released as a film, and in January 2021, two popular short episodes were screened in theaters. The seventh season, Natsume’s Book of Friends: Urushi, aired from October 7, 2024.
Natsume Takashi and Nyanko-sensei appear in this Japanese-style art piece finished with coloring based on traditional Japanese “wa-iro” colors. The print captures the fantastical yet warm atmosphere of Natsume’s Book of Friends through ukiyo-e composition and coloring.
The “Autumn Wind Umbrella Pattern” depicts the memorable scene where Natsume returns a name to a spirit. The background is scattered with colorful umbrellas, autumn leaves, and flowers, with the adorable Nyanko-sensei snuggled on his shoulder.
The coloring, based on “wa-iro” colors, is designed to blend naturally with washi paper, giving a nostalgic and calm warmth.
While incorporating ukiyo-e design elements, the print carefully preserves the soft atmosphere of the original illustration, creating a piece where Japanese beauty and the world of the work naturally merge.
By fusing the appeal of modern anime with traditional Japanese aesthetics, the print reinterprets the work as a new “wa art.” It offers a uniquely Japanese flavor different from standard illustrations.
The print measures 25.5 cm tall by 20.3 cm wide, with a frame of 39.8 cm by 31.1 cm. The price is 27,500 yen (tax included).
Product Specifications
- Product Name: Natsume’s Book of Friends Ukiyo-e ‘Autumn Wind Umbrella Pattern’
- Price: 27,500 yen (tax included)
- Size: (Print) 25.5 cm × 20.3 cm, (Frame) 39.8 cm × 31.1 cm
- Frame Materials: Wood, resin, acrylic
- Washi Paper: Pure hand-made washi (from Iwano Heizaburo Paper Mill and Yamaguchi Paper Mill, Echizen washi)
- Technique: Giclée print
- Distributor: Bansan
(C) Midorikawa Yuki / Hakusensha / “Natsume’s Book of Friends” Production Committee
